Christmas windows and illuminations; an enchanted break

The Christmas season is fast approaching and little by little Paris is donning her gown of festive lights and populating the windows of the biggest stores with wonderful characters and twinkling magic. Christmas windows and illuminations always help to get us into the festive spirit, so welcome to magical worlds where imaginative creativity goes hand in hand with technological prowess.

 

Department store windows; stunning scenarios and spectacular scenery

Every year the department stores of Paris vie with each other to create the most imaginative, accomplished and appealing Christmas window displays to the great pleasure of Parisians and visitors to the capital alike. In keeping with tradition, now that November is here, the city’s grands magasins have unveiled this year’s magnificent creations.

Find the most popular Christmas display windows in the capital at Galeries Lafayette, Printemps Haussmann, Bon Marché, BHV Marais, Bercy-Village and the Forum des Halles.

 

Illuminations 2.0 on the most beautiful avenues of Paris

While the windows of the big department stores take on their finery, with beautiful lights all aglow, the main thoroughfares of Paris contribute their share to the festive grandeur.

This year, the Champs-Elysées will again present the Christmas illuminations project called Scintillance, bringing a constellation of lights to the avenue’s 400 trees. They will shine every evening from 17:00 to 02:00 until the first week of January. In keeping with the most beautiful avenue in the world, the Boulevard Haussmann, Place Vendome, Rue de la Paix and other streets will be adorned with thousands of lights, bringing their sparkle to Paris as soon as night falls.

The Hotel de la Paix suggests you take a ride on an open-top bus to see the magic of Christmas from a route through the most beautiful sites and illuminated monuments such as the Opera Garnier, Eiffel Tower, Invalides and the Louvre Museum.

 

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For more information :

- Christmas Windows
- Christmas Markets

Photo credit : © Jean-Pierre Dalbéra - Flickr

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Hotel de la Paix, a 3-star hotel at the heart of Paris 15th